Metal stud assembly

ABSTRACT

A metal stud assembly is disclosed which includes a load-bearing element consisting of a web and at least one flange with the flange bent from the same sheet of metal as the web and bent into a V-shaped cross section. A sheet-holding element is fixed to the flange, the sheet-holding element being penetrable by connectors for sheet material.

United States Patent [1 1 Puccio Aug. 21, 1973 I 1 METAL STUD ASSEMBLY[76] Inventor: Joseph L. Puccio, 41286 Chapel Way, Fremont, Calif. 94538[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 206,705

3,332,189 7/1967 Blatnik 52/731 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS698,461 10/1953 Great Britain 52/376 453,769 1/1949 Canada 609,2769/1948 Great Britain 52/377 Primary Examiner-Alfred C. PerhamAttorney-Harris Zimmerman [5 7] ABSTRACT A metal stud assembly isdisclosed which includes a load-bearing element consisting of a web andat least one flange with the flange bent from the same sheet of metal asthe web and bent into a V-shaped cross section. A sheet-holding elementis fixed to the flange, the sheet-holding element being penetrable byconnectors for sheet material.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 METAL STUD ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND In modernconstruction the use of wooden members" in the purchase and installationof metal studs are frequently lost in the effort of fixing sheetmaterial to the studs.

THE INVENTION This invention avoids or greatly mitigates the problemsset forth above by providing a metal stud with all the advantages ofmetal studs, but one to which sheet material is easily attached bynailing or by procedures that are easier and more satisfactory. Themetal stud of this invention includes two elements: a load-bearingelement and a sheet-holdin g element. These elements coact to producethe desirable results obtained.

The load-bearing element consists of a strong metal element bent into aweb and at least one flange. The web is, in cross section, a straightelement lying in a plane, while the flange is bent to a V-shaped crosssection. The ends of the legs of the V-shaped flange lie in the sameplane and diverge to open away from the web. The plane in which thedivergent extremities lie forms a boundry of the cross section of theload-bearing element.

The sheet-holding element is formed to be affixed to the load bearingelement in contact with the portions of the flange constituting the endsof the diverging legs of the V. The sheet-holding element is of lightergauge than the load-bearing element, and it is made of material that canbe penetrated by the connectors for fasteners to be used to hold thesheet material to the stud. Preferably, the surface of the sheet-holdingelement is irregular in order to engage a connector to prevent slippageof the point of the connector while it is driven. A knurled or dimpledsurface may be employed. A surface that is dimpled and slightlypenetrated at the bottom of each dimple may also be used.

The sheet-holding element may be connected to the load-bearing elementby any suitable means, including but not limited to spot welding,crimping, friction or riveting, to mention a few. Sheet material may beconnected to the stud assembly by driving a variety of fasteners throughthe sheet holding material. Nails, particularly with circumferentiallyslotted shanks may be employed, but staples are preferred. Whateverfastener is used, when driven through the sheet-holding element, it willcontact the sloping wall of the V-shaped flange and will be bent to forma crimped connection with the stud assembly. Opposite legs of a staplewill engage opposite walls of the V-shaped flange and will be crimpedtoward each other to make a particularly snug connection.

The invention can be best described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate structures embodying the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stud assembly embodying thisinvention with portions cut away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a stud assembly of this invention havingexpanded metal lath affixed to one side of it and wall board affixed tothe other side.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the flange of FIG. 2that has wall board affixed to it.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view partly in section of a specially adaptedstud assembly of this invention employed as a furring strip to holdsheet material to form a ceilmg.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a different stud assemblyembodying this invention.

The same reference numeral is employed in all views to identify the sameelement.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated stud including a web 10 having flanges 11attached to each end. The web also includes an opening 12 forconvenience in passing utility supply means through the walls that thestuds support. Each of flanges 1 1 are V-shaped having their verticespointing toward each other and having the extreme edges of their legslying in planes approximately perpendicular to the plane of web 10. I v1 A sheet-holding element 13 is formed to co-operate with each flange11. FIG. 1 illustrated the elements 13 in exploded perspective viewwhile FIGS. 25 inclusive show elements 13 assembled in cooperation withflanges 11. Element 13 preferably has bent portions 14 which engage theflange so that a sheet material connecting surface 15 lies in a planeperpendicular to the plane of web 10. As best shown in FIG. 3, theelement 13 may be attached to flange 11 by spot welds 16, but any othersuitable fastening means may be employed. The surface 15 may be knurled,dimpled or otherwise contoured to be irregular as illustrated in FIG. 1to facilitate driving connectors through the element 13 by engagingtheir points to prevent slipping.

FIGS. 2 and 3 best illustrate how sheet material is attached to thestuds of this invention. In FIG. 2 expanded metal lath 17 is positionedin contact with surface 15 and staple 18 is driven through lath l7 andelement 13. When the legs of staple 18 contact the sloping interiorsurfaces of flange 11 they are bent inward bending sharply at theunderside of element 13 and crimping tightly so that lath 17 is heldfirmly in place.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged illustration of the other flange of FIG. 2. InFIG. 3 wall board 19 is connected to the stud assembly by staple 20. Thestaple 20, when driven mechanically, may be adapted to pass so quicklythrough the wall board 19 and element 13 that it becomes embeddedbeneath the surface of wall'board 19. The high-energy driving of staplesalso crimps them more firmly in that the inertia of the staple legscaused by abruptly contacting the sloping walls and rapidly changingdirection causes them actually to cross each other and be completely outof contact with the sloping walls of flange 11. Particularlywheninstalling wall board it is desirable for the connectors to embedthemselves into the board to facilitate normal plastering and tapingfinishing procedures.

FIG. 4 illustrates the stud assembly of this invention used as a furringstrip to hold a ceiling. In FIG. 4 joists 21 are supported in ahorizontal position by suitable hangers 22. The stud assembly of thisinvention used as a furring strip preferably is formed with the vertexof the V-shaped flange 11 and the end of the web 10 lying in the sameplane. A number of such stud assemblies are attached, suitably spaced tothe joists 21; and ceiling surface sheet material, such as wall board,is connected to the furring strips by driving staples vertically upwardthrough the wall board and the element 13.

FIG. 5 illustrated another element of this invention. In the embodimentof FIG. 5 the unitary load-bearing element is bent so that web isaligned with the vertex of the V-shaped flange 11. In this embodimentone leg of flange 11 is doubled back on itself. The advantage of thisconstruction is that it is symmetrical and is less likely to distort dueto eccentricity when subjected to loads. Another advantage of theconfiguration of FIG. 5 is that the legs 14 of element 13 can be crimpedover both legs of flange l l and be held to the flange by friction orpressure alone. FIG. 5 also illustrates a suitable dimpled contour ofsurface 15.

Many variations of the concept described herein may be made within thescope of this invention. The element 13 may be plastic or other durablebut penetrable material and it may be fixed by adhesives to theloadsupporting element. The load-supporting element may have manydifferent cross sections and it may be formed in many ways such as beingbent from a single sheet or multiple sheets riveted through the web, orformed by rolling, forging, casting, extruding or other processes.

What is claimed is:

1. A metal stud assembly comprising: a load-bearing element including alongitudinally extending web and at least one flange extending from oneedge portion of said web and from one surface thereof and coterminouswith the length of the web, said flange having a V- shaped cross sectionthe divergent extremities of which lie in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the web and forming the boundary of saidloadbearing element, the apex of said V-shaped flange being offset fromthe plane of said web and disposed inwardly of said edge portion of saidweb, and a sheetholding element fixed to the flange in contact with saiddivergent extremities and forming a plane surface substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the web, said sheet-holding elementsurface being knurled and penetrable by connectors for sheet material.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet-holding element surface isknurled substantially uniformly over the entire surface thereof.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wehrein said load-bearing element is formedfrom a single sheet of metal and in which the lugs forming said flangedefine an included angle of about 4. The assembly of claim 1 whereinsaid web is provided with a flange at each edge portion thereof, witheach of said flanges extending from the same surface of said web. cm 5.The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet-holding element is fixed tothe flange and to the adjacent edge portion of said web.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet-holding element is fixed tothe flange and to the adjacent edge portion of said web.

1. A metal stud assembly comprising: a load-bearing element including alongitudinally extending web and at least one flange extending from oneedge portion of said web and from one surface thereof and coterminouswith the length of the web, said flange having a V-shaped cross sectionthe divergent extremities of which lie in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the web and forming the boundary of saidload-bearing element, the apex of said V-shaped flange being offset fromthe plane of said web and disposed inwardly of said edge portion of saidweb, and a sheet-holding element fixed to the flange in contact withsaid divergent extremities and forming a plane surface substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the web, said sheetholding element surfacebeing knurled and penetrable by connectors for sheet material.
 2. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet-holding element surface is knurledsubstantially uniformly over the entire surface thereof.
 3. The assemblyof claim 1 wehrein said load-bearing element is formed from a singlesheet of metal and in which the lugs forming said flange define anincluded angle of about 90*.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said webis provided with a flange at each edge portion thereof, with each ofsaid flanges extending from the same surface of said web. cm
 5. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet-holding element is fixed to theflange and to the adjacent edge portion of said web.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sheet-holding element is fixed to the flange and tothe adjacent edge portion of said web.